Lea, Eddy prepare for unexpected disasters

The mine rescue team for the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant displayed the equipment they use for people to see up close during the 2015 SafetyFest of Southeast New Mexico on Tuesday.(Photo: SARAH MATOTT - CURRENT-ARGUS)Buy Photo

CARLSBAD — Ensuring that southeast New Mexico is prepared for an unexpected disaster is the goal for emergency managers of Eddy and Lea Counties.

"Preparing for the Worst" was one of many topics discussed at the 2015 SafetyFest of Southeast New Mexico on Tuesday that focused on ways to make southeast New Mexico safer.

During the panel, Lea County Emergency Manager Lorenzo Velasquez and Eddy County Emergency Manager Jennifer Armendariz explained to those in attendance how the two counties are working together if the worst happens and what the public can do to help.

Each emergency manager is using new tools, and the two are working closely together to set up an emergency response plan.

Velasquez said a natural disaster can happen anywhere, even in southeastern New Mexico.

He said the major flooding in the past two years in both counties is just one example of why preparation is important, so when disaster does strike, the public is ready to fix the problems.

Velasquez said that the biggest step the general public can take to prepare a disaster is to have a plan.

Both emergency managers are also working to enhance their emergency notification systems and emergency operation centers.

Lea County is already using a mass notification system called "Code Red."

Armendariz said Eddy County is considering using Code Red also, but at the moment, Eddy County has its own notification system.

"Here we have a reverse 911 that we notify the public with," Armendariz said, adding that to sign up for reverse 911 notifications people can go to their website www.eddyoem.com.

"For instance last week we had notifications go out to let people know about potential flash flooding," she said.

Eddy County is also modeling its new emergency operations center after the new facility Lea County has constructed.

In addition to the disaster preparation panel discussion, others spoke at the SafetyFest about mine rescue safety, distracted driving and ending drunk driving.

The conference's goal is to educate the public about safety and how to make the region safer with better roads, new rules and overall awareness.

Training courses involving safety-related issues will be held all day on Wednesday and Thursday at the Pecos River Village Conference Center. To register for these courses , visit www.safetyfestsenm.com.